"My work revolves around storytelling. Being a storyteller requires that I navigate the truth, frame my thoughts and connect with an audience. I want students to understand how their words function in relationship to those with whom they communicate."
Phill Branch
Visiting Assistant ProfessorCommunication and Media Studies
Phill Branch is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Communication and Media Studies program at Goucher College. He completed his MFA in Screenwriting at the American Film Institute. Previously, he has taught film at Hampton and Howard Universities. Branch was the 2019 recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council’s "Solo Performance Award" and a 2019 Rubys Artist Award grantee for storytelling and performance. Branch directed Searching for Shaniqua; his documentary about the impact names have on our lives. The film won the HBO Best Documentary award at the 2016 Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. At Goucher, he teaches courses focused on writing for the media and studying race and ethnicity in film and television. His courses touch on how communication functions for both writers and audiences. Branch’s current writing work focuses on creative nonfiction essay writing for both print and stage performance, including the acclaimed series The Moth.
Publications
“Finding My Place in 'Pride'.” Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2019.
“Heteronormativity Makes Us Prey: At 15 I Believed Acting out My Crushes Was Worse than Being Exploited by Strangers.” racebaitr. 17 Oct. 2018. Web.
Searching for Shaniqua, Documentary, Director/Producer, 2016
“That’s so Raven - and so Us Too!” Baltimore Sun. 30 Oct. 2015.
"Shifting The Conversation On Black Cinema Towards The Love Of Film & Away From Box Office." Shadow & Act. Indiewire, 2012.
"Chicago." For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out, and Coming Home. Ed. Keith Boykin. 1st ed. Magnus, 2012.
PuNanny Diaries, Web-Series, 2009-2012
Exhibits or Performances
Story Collider (Storyteller), DC Comedy Loft, Washington, D.C., 2019
The Moth Mainstage (Storyteller), Martha’s Vineyard, MA; Boston, MA and Austin, TX, 2019
The Moth Ball - Honoring Roxanne Gay (Storyteller), Capitale, New York, 2019
The Moth DC GrandSLAM (Storyteller), The Lincoln, Washington, D.C., 2018
“We are Family” (Storyteller), Perfect Liars Club, Union Stage, Washington, D.C., 2018
The Moth StorySlam (Host), City Winery, Washington, D.C., 2018
“Out/Spoken” (Director), Story District, 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., 2017 & 2018
“Elbow Grease” (Storyteller), The Moth, Howard Theater, Washington, D.C., 2017
“Bentzen Ball Storytelling Show” (Storyteller), Story District, Howard Theater, Washington, D.C., 2015
External Awards, Honors, Grants
Artist Residency, Baltimore Theatre Project, 2020
Rubys Artist Grant, Deutsch Foundation, 2019
Artist Grant (Solo Performance), Maryland State Arts Council, 2019
The Moth DC - GrandSLAM Champion, 2018
Invited Talks
“Honors College Brown Bag Discussion,” University of Tennessee, Honors College, Knoxville, TN, 2018
“What’s in a Name?” Harvard Kennedy School, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Cambridge, MA, 2017